Refrigerator



Ap 2 J. E. GLOEKLER 7 1,711,331

REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 17, '1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zlwventoz J. E. GLOEKLER April 30, 1929.

REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug 17, 1926' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

JOHN EDWARD GLOEKLER, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

I REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed August 17, 1926. Serial No. 129,746.

My invention refers to improvements in the class of refrigerators, and relates particularly to means for providing a tight cushioning contact between the door or doors and the frame of the refrigerator body, around thedoor openings.

It has in View to provide such means for preventing conduction of heat or cold, insuring a close air-tight contact between the frame and the. door, and for cushioning engagement between such movable and stationary parts respectively.

In the drawings showing one preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figqlis a front view in elevation-of a refrigerator embodying the improvement;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line II, II, of Fig. 1 enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical line III, III, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a perspective detail view, illustrating the framing construction for the cushioning and sealing portions.

section on the The refrigerator as'a whole comprises a main rectangular body A enclosed within side, back and top walls2, 3 and 4 respectively, with a suitable bottom wall, either with or without a lower cooling unit chamber. v I

As shown, the refrigerator illustrated is provided with such a lower compartment'for installation of the electrical powerequipment of a'refrigerating unit of any suitable construction, now commonly employed in connection with preservingcontai'ners of the kind involved. Such chamber is preferably provided with a front ventilating partition 8 of any'suitable kind.

' Between the main walls and the several partitions which define the corresponding inner chambers,are the several opening and closing doors 9 mounted on the usual hinges 10 and having suitable'locking latches 11. The several inner chambers are divided in any preferred arrangement by vertical and horizontal framing partitions 12which ex-' tend outwardly from the main front portion of the refrigerator on the same general level with outer surrounding similar framing members 13. As shown, the rear portionof framing member 12 has a middle rib extending beyond its side faces providing spaced apart bearing faces for the double spaced apart reinforcing sheet metal member 17.

Between such partitions, the doors.9 are mounted for opening and closing on their hinges in the usual way. In the rear of framing members 12 and 13 the main walls are provided with inner main wall rebated abutments 14, providing for tight bearing engagement thereon of inner sealing gasket strips 15, which are mounted upon and extend around the entire inneredge portion of the door 9. As thus mounted the strips 15 are adapted to engage the inner abutments 14 of the main framing when thedoor is closed. 7 I

Supplemental similar strip gaskets '16 are located on the inner face of the outer rebated and extended closing edge portions of doors 9, providing for similar contacting en- 1 gagement with the outer edges of the main framing 13 and intermediate framing 12.

Between such inner and outer bearing faces the walls of the framing'are chamfered or beveled, as indicated, with. slight intervening air space, avoiding any binding and insuring free opening and closing, with tight sealing engagement against the strips. Said strips are of'rubber orother suitable compressible material adapted to make tight engagement'between the doors and the framing with suflicient resiliency to insure binding engagement against the surfaces.

For the purpose of providing an inner backing or reinforcement for hearing contact of the innerstrips 15, in the rear of the middle horizontal and vertical framing partition or partitions 12, I provide a sheet metal framing member17 which is secured to the main lining either vertically or horizontally, or both, behind the framing members 12, and extending laterally beyond'the edges thereof at each side, as shown.

Such reinforcement is of sheet metal, similar' to the main lining 18, and is made of a doubled blank spaced apart and bent upon itself with thelaterally extended round edge flange or sill portions 19, against which the several inner *gasket strips on the swinging edge of the door bear when the door is closed. The reinforcing member 17, whether vertically or horizontally arranged, or'both, dependingupon the numb r and arrangement of the partitions 12,is con- I nected with the main lining at the sides or top or bottom providing a smooth con nected surface for application of the usual enamel. Its inner and outer spaced apart sections bear directly against the rear face of the framing partition 12.

The construction as thus made provides a strong, substantial mounting for the partition frame members, with an ample edge extension for sealing engagement with the sealing gaskets.

It also greatly adds to the appearance of the refrigerator and inter-poses a metallic enameled base, providing a strong, substantial bearing for the inner edges of the door or doors. As shown, reinforcingmember 17 may be conveniently secured by its inner middle portion to the face of the inwardly extending rib of framing member 12. The spaced apart rounded edge doubled portions bear forwardly against the rebated inner faces of the framing member, and provide a degree ofresiliency, tending to compensate for any variations in the inner engaging faces of the door, thus ensuring good contact upon closing it against the laterally projecting portion of the metal member.

Where horizontal partitions 20 are used, they are preferably set slightly below the upper rounded edge of the horizontally arranged beads 19, as in Fig. 3. Such arrangement provides for easy cleaning and improves the appearance of the interior.

Theadvantages of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by all those familiar with this class of apparatus. In addition to the advantages noted, it tends to durability, cleanliness and sanitation, and is continuously efficient in supporting and maintaining the entire front structure of the refrigerator.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In refrigerator construction, the combination with the main walls and their sheet metal lining and a transverse front door framing member connecting opposite main walls, of an inner doubled sheet metal door bearing member secured by its middle portion against the framing member and providing a rcver-sely turned spaced apart double wall bearing against the framing member extending beyond the partition and provided with a projecting rounded edge terminal.

2- In refrigerator construction, the combination with the main walls and their sheet metal. lining and a transverse front door framingmember connecting opposite main walls, of an inner doubled sheet metal door bearing member secured at its middle portion to the back of the partition member and connected with the mainwall lining and extending inwardly beyond the partition in the form of a doubled spaced apart wall having a rounded edge terminal.

3. In refrigerator construction, the combination with the main walls and their sheet metal lining and a transverse front door framing member connecting opposite main walls, of an inner doubled sheet metal door bearing member formed of a spaced apart blank the inner and outer walls of which engage directly against the rear faces of the partition and extend by a rounded edge inwardly open terminal portion laterally beyond the partition providing a door bearing abutment.

4. In refrigerator construction, the combination with the main walls and theirsheet metal lining and a transverse front door framing member connecting opposite main walls having a middle inwardly spaced bearing rib extending beyond side bear-ing faces,

of an inner doubled spaced apart sheet metal door bearing member extending beyond the partition and having a rounded edge terminal and secured at its middle portion for contact against the framing member faces and rib, and an opening and closing door having a sealing gasket adapted to bear against said extending terminal portion.

5. In refrigerator construction, the combination with the main walls and their sheet metal lining and a transverse front door framing member connecting opposite main walls having a middle inwardly spaced bearing rib extending beyond side bearing faces, of an inner doubled plural layer sheet metal door bearing member extending be yond the partition at opposite sides and redoubled upon itself to provide rounded edge terminals, the inner and outer sheet metal layers thereof being spaced apart and each hearing by, their middle portions directly against the inner rib and side bearing face portions of the partition.

6. In refrigerator construction, the combination with the main walls and their sheet metal lining and a transverse front door framing member connecting opposite main walls and a supplemental door framing member connecting said member at right angles with an intervening main wall, said .door framing members having spaced apart bearing faces, of inner doubled spaced apart sheet metal door bearing members mounted upon the spaced apart rear faces of said framing members extending inwardly beyond the members and having rounded terminal edge portions merging into each otherat the corner joint portion of the framing members.

7. In refrigerator construction, thGrCOHlbination with the main walls and their sheet metal lining and a transverse front door framing member connecting opposite main walls having a tapering edge and a flat front and a middle rearwardly extending bearing maxim rib, of an inner doubled spaced apart sheet vided with a sealing gasket on its inner edge metal door bearing member mounted against for engagement with said rounded terminal 1 the rear faces and rib of the door framing edge portion and a sealing gasket 0n the member extending laterally beyond the rear inner face of the extension for engagement face of the partition and having a rounded against the outer face of the partition. terminal edge portion, and an opening and In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my closing door having a correspondingly tapsignature.

ering edge and an outerextension and pro- JOHN EDWARD GLOEKLER! 

